The Charlotte Hornets may have had an amazing offseason, but many people are still unconvinced that they are a playoff team. In fact, Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton of ESPN put it out there that Charlotte should be "all-in" on getting another high draft pick next summer. Suggesting that the team should tank may not sit well with LaMelo Ball, though.
The sportswriters' idea runs contrary to the belief that the Hornets can compete for a spot in the Play-In Tournament in 2026. To be fair, Bontemps and Pelton think Buzz City is the most likely to be the only contender among the four squads they categorized that should look to secure great positioning in the 2026 draft.